We've picked out all of the Cheltenham hopefuls running this weekend.
Nicky Henderson's Beyond Conceit is as short as 16/1 for The Neptune after a ready success in a Newbury novice hurdle in January. A talented individual on the Flat for Andrew Balding, that win was his first appearance on a racetrack in over 3 1/2 years. His rivals on Saturday include fellow Neptune hopefuls Acting Lass (40/1) and De Dollar Man (33/1).
Fletchers Flyer is a 12/1 shout for the National Hunt Chase and this race looks the ideal prep for Harry Fry's 9yo.
Likely favourite Agrapart was a winner at Cheltenham last time out on new year's day and is currently a 33/1 poke for the Stayers Hurdle. Also in the race is JLT hopeful Aux Ptits Soins who is as short as 16's with one firm but as big as 50's with another.
The top two in Saturday's market will both need to win well if they are to qualify for the Pertemps Final in March with both Call To Order (20/1) and Dadsintrouble (12/1) near the top of the ante-post betting.
Second favourite for the Champion Hurdle, Yanworth will be a short price for the Kingwell Hurdle on Saturday. Alan King's 7yo missed his last intended target after suffering a minor setback and connections will be hoping he shows no ill-effects from that absence on Saturday with a commanding performance against inferior opposition.
2014 Champion Hurdle winner Jezki continues his comeback from a long layoff in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle over 2m. Jessica Harrington's 9yo was successful at Navan in January on his first run for almost two years and will be looking to build on that effort with victory in this Grade 3. Saturday's 2 mile trip should prove no problem for 12-time winner although he has been well-backed all week in the Stayers Hurdle market where he is now best-priced 6/1.
Cue Card is the most high profile runner this weekend, the top-rated chaser in the UK should account for Saturday's rivals on his way to another assault on this year's Gold Cup where he's currently best-priced 8/1.
Four of these have entries in the Albert Bartlett and all of them are best-priced 33/1. No Hassle Hoff looks likely to go off favourite for Saturday's race but Report To Base, The Worlds End and Ballyarthur will all be hoping for victory ahead of their Grade 1 assignment in March.
There will be plenty of interest in the concluding race on the Gowran card on Saturday as Willie Mullins unleashes Champion Bumper hope Blixt. Despite not yet even being seen on a racecourse, the 5yo daughter of Yates is as short as 20/1 in the ante-post betting.
Sunday
14.40 Navan
A field of just four runners look set to compete in the Grade 3 Novice Chase where Identify Thief is on a recovery mission after not finishing his last two races. The Grade 1 winning hurdler impressed in his first two attempts over fences but has since been pulled up at Leopardstown in December and was a first fence faller back at the same course at the end of last month. 14/1 for the Arkle Trophy he'll need to be winning this race if he is to be considered any sort of threat to the imperious Altior in March.
